WW1 Canadian mess tin

hello guys, picked this up in the week, would be interesting to see it in the original finish new, I guess would be like the inside, Montreal made and dated 1916, can give more details if wanted, has the two studs on the lid to stop the handle falling over

The example that you have is a dismounted pattern, there was also a mounted pattern; it was circular; and both patterns were manufactured in Canada. One of the mounted pattern messtins that I have had been manufactured in Berlin, Ontario in 1913. I own quite a few of the dismounted pattern messtins and they can be found sporting several sub-variant or manufacture's differences. I have a 1916 dated example manufactured by the same Montreal company as yours, but without the finger holds and the side nipples on the top lid.

Besides the Messtins, there are also canvas covers for each type and these were also manufactured in Canada.